I'm a Frederick Banting student and I would  like to share some of the things I did in in my favorite science class.

Well first I’d like to talk about our wonderful recycling and compost program explaining  how we do it step by step.  

After getting together every Friday to make compost liners,  we send a group off that consists of three or four people with a clipboard and a trolly  carrying some recycle bins and a compost bin. Then that group goes around to collect and rate the garbage and the rooms like the staff room, bathrooms, office, hallways, guidance area and student kitchen for example looking to see best practise of recycling and garbage sorting by that area.

While that groups goes off another couple redo or fix the white board for this weeks rating. Some of us are very particular about how the lines look on the board and we try to keep it looking good.

Preparing the white board

Collecting Compost - washrooms, halls, student kitchen, staff room, office, guidance

Once the group finishes sorting (if there is cross contamination) and rating these areas they return to the hall in front of the science class to write down their rating on the large white board.

The white board has each class and area listed down the side and on the top of the whiteboard places to rate each of the garbage, blue, black bin, and compost. Based on how each class has done with their weekly recycling, compost and garbage we make an announcement.

Once we have rated and sorted the staff room, bathrooms, office, halls, guidance and student kitchen we make an announcement for all the classrooms to bring down their compost, black bin and blue bin for final sorting and rating. We remind the classes in the announcement to make sure to have checked and sorted their bins pouring any liquids into the sink before bringing it down.

When all the classrooms have brought down their bins and we (the small group) have done a final sort we decide who had the best garbage (only real garbage in there!), compost, black and blue bin practise for the week. Sometimes we have guitar to accompany our work.

We award the  trophies for each class or areas to display for the week. Based on how each class has done with their weekly recycling, compost and garbage we make an announcement about which class has won the green frog or groot for the week.

One  is a green frog in a little compost bin for best recycling and the other is a little groot figure for best garbage with zero cross contamination (nothing in the garbage except what is considered true garbage that can not be recycled or discarded in the garbage).

Winners can only be those that receive a 4++ rating. We never give it to our area who of course are always 4++ because we want to encourage others in their improvements. If we have 2 or more classes receiving a 4++ rating the one who has not received the award for some time will get the award because it is all about improvement and encouragement!

It does get competitive and the classes and teachers are always thrilled to win the award for the week.

Every Wednesday our compost is picked up by the City of Ottawa and we make sure to get it out to the curb Tuesday for an early Wednesday pick-up.

The second thing I would like to share is we also learn about potting, planting and growing plants. This is coming from someone who was only capable of killing plants to now to outright growing avocados, pumpkins, beans and more. There is even an outdoor garden that we grow vegetables in then harvest to put in various meals the students prepare  for the rest of the school to enjoy. We have an amazing Banting Green Soup from beans, peas and lentils with added Banting Greens that is wonderful.

We also invite students to go to the Indigenous Youth Symposium to learn about the Indigenous folks and some of the history and ways of Indigenous Cultures. I was very fortunate that I was invited to go because not only is the culture fascinatingly beautiful  it was also very a powerful experience just being there  and listening as well as doing some of the many workshops,. I personally did two myself and found the art and the knowledge behind it  incredible but humbling as well. The whole event in itself was very powerful and humbling and I have the deepest respect for the amazing people who were there to teach us and tell us not only about Indigenous  history but their personal ones as well . The whole experience was very inspiring and I hope more people will go to listen and learn. Additionally I was able to connect to my own Indigenous roots and connect with my own family with Indigenous roots with better understanding. We also had the Kairos Blanket Exercise come to our school where we learned more about the true history of the land we share. Elder Barbara Dumont lead the exercise.

Finally after  this fantastic course that I will take many great memorable experiences  from and after all I've learned like recycling, how to make compost liners, taking care of the environment, the chemistry behind cooking, growing plants, a little about Indigenous Folks including my heritage and so much more from this incredible class and my amazing teacher Janet who has helped me blossom into the wonderful student I have become.  I am tremendously grateful for taking this fun packed science class

-Alexis D.